This is the city: Los Angeles, California. I work here. I'm an ex-mayor. Los Angeles is a magnet for people from all over the world. Some of them run for public office. Inevitably some of them stray from the golden rule and rule for those that have the gold. That's when I go to work. My name is Yorty. I'm a dead pol.

Friday, April 22, 2005

Paying City Employees, to Play in a Campaign

Today's Daily News scoops the LA Times and the rest of the media with a story on Hahn forcing city employees to work overtime for an April 25th ribbon cutting.

But because of the mayoral election overtime was all of sudden forced to get the work done sooner, and according to Beth Barrett's report the overtime was being forced long before the rains ever came.

"We've been here seven days a week," said one worker, who asked not to be identified out of fear of losing his job. "It's for the wrong purpose: the election."How does one defend this? If it wasn't the rains? Was it the City Council meeting in May? City Councilman Tony Cardenas wasn't concerned about the meeting -- was Hahn?

How convenient -- a building that was slated to be open in June - was pushed up using taxpayer dollars so Hahn can have his photo-op.

47 Comments:

Anonymous said:

Villaraigosa has his staff (socialist ELA groupies) working on his campaign and still on city payroll. Villaraigosa is also on the councilman payroll and has not done one complete project. The socialist staff works over 10 hours for his campaign daily. They do not do their jobs as they were initially hired for in the district 14, but they Overworked-yes, Compensated-yes, and you cry about a project being done with city funds. Atleast Hahn is finishing a project.

Villaraigosa cannot even finish a project for 2 years. Maybe Villaraigosa staff can learn something from this. Focus, have a goal, and finish it. With all the city money Villaraigosa is paying his staff to call, walk, blog on the internet, harrass the constituents, and threaten anyone that speaks out; Still he has no finished project. Again, atleast Hahn is finishing one of many projects projected for the benefit of City of Los Angeles.

Twist it...who cares, because we already know Villaraigosa is scratching for scraps for verbal ammunition. He is exposed over and over. Villaraigosa you are such a WHINER!

Hahn is keeping the economy going. What is Villaraigosa doing, sitting on city funds that belong to the neighborhoods he rejects to serve and uses funds to hush, pay for play, his socialist staffies, bloggers that try to intimidate with lies, and oh yes, his runs to the bar.

Villaraigosa takes advantage of any photo-op, he's so desperate he takes these photo-ops on projects that are not approved, what a slime ball.

Antonio just used his opportunity to do a FREE media play and show up at Jefferson H.S. Some of us had the opportunity to watch it, and the viewing had mixed responses. Some individuals liked it, and some thought he was just taking advantage of the situation there. Keep in mind we are a mixed crowd. Some are pro AV, others pro Hahn. What's great is that we might insult each other, but still we do not get offended and start censoring. Once you start censoring, those socialistic agendas do not have to be written, they are obviously executed by the one censoring. All in all, I realize that Antonio V. uses these vulnerable opportunities and uses the people emotionally for his own gain and political agenda. So many violent incidents happen in the junior high and high schools in the area he serves, I never or heard of him holding hands in prayer. May God forgive him for pimping himself and using religion as a tool to manipulate the minds of the young and adults.

Jefferson H.S. has always been there, now he shows up? I don't think that Antonio V. can help this city with its racial problems, we need someone who is not linked to racist groups like the Mecha and their Aztlan doctrine. His extreme views will only make ethnic groups divisive and result in chaotic situations. I don't buy it that he is going to help, first it's money, then maybe he will help you.

WHY do you think the PETTY LITTLE dog parke was SUDDENLY so urgent to get the ground broken for -- just weeks before the runoff, so that ADV's field staff had to scramble and still screw it up. This is TWO YEARS after the last CM's staff would have done the same thing, and Rec & Parks said it would be started.

The community was PROMISED a community meeting to discuss design and additional elements BEFORE the groundbreaking. But, NO!!!

But field staff says "UM, NO, we're just going to PUSH this through right away -- no community meeting, design review, etc." (like we've been promising for more than a year). NOW it's urgent. WHY??

LIARS! But VERY sad that THIS is what they have to show for a last-minute rush to get something done... a PETTY little pocket parke (and ONLY the groundbreaking, none of the project even close to completion).

Hmmmm, Hahn is pushing to get one thing done a couple MONTHS ahead of time -- having completed MANY things in 4 years ADV is pushing to get ANYTHING DONE --- TWO YEARS late (at Rec & Parks expense, when he's hording district money), because he hasn't complete ONE THING.

You are are truly crazy. Nevermind that a sizeable chunk of Antonio's staff are republicans, nevermind that a sizeable chunk of Antonio's staff have spouses who run small business in Los Angeles - let's forget that for one second.

Let's remember that Hahn keeps the economy going - he kept it going for James Acevedo whose empty dirt sights cit there keeping the economy going. He kept it going for Lelond Wong whose bank account is flush like never before. He kept the economy going for Tutor-Saliba whose corrupt pay to play scandal gave them the Van Nuys airport contruction job.

"Nevermind that a sizeable chunk of Antonio's staff are republicans..."

This is coming from YOU who previously posted on one of the blogs here that "Jesus is a Socialist." Your perceptions blurred, and I do not take anything you say as fact, everything you say has been questionable from the get go. From all of the ghosts Republicans you so called have (maybe Riordan, right?), you should check where their alliance is.

Hey, while you are at it, how about Chris Hammond and his Crenshaw Fiasco, funded with more City money, courtesy of...of course, Mayor Poopie, who "keeps the economy running" by overpaying his contributors.

Don't leave out Fleishman-Hillard or the Airport Duty-Free Shops, the latest recipient of Hahn's largesse.

What did Mark Alan Abrahms, Alan Casden, Pierce O'Donnell or all the others INDICTED OR CONVICTED of campagin violations get?

Who knows? Who can keep up with the graft, it is so prevalent.

Just ask Ted Stein, or Leland Wong, or Troy Edwards or Doug Dowie, they might be able to help you out.

Thanks Jim for "keeping the economy going"; somehow I think there is a better way.

Don't worry, you'll have plenty of time on your hands soon to think about it.

Tax-exempt, unaccredited "public interest law school" whose graduates are permitted to take the California Bar Examination

Founded by radical groups, one of which was the National Lawyers Guild

Graduates include California State Senator Gil Cedillo, Los Angeles City Council member and mayoral candidate Antonio Villaraigosa, and founder of radical "media watchdog" group FAIR Jeff CohenStudents seeking admittance are required to "demonstrate a commitment to progressive social change" with evidence of political activism

"If you seek to become a lawyer or advocate for those who already control the economic and political power in our society, look elsewhere." -- People's College of Law web site, 2005

"PCL was created to bring legal resources to under-represented communities and train legal advocates who will secure progressive social change and justice in society," says a page for prospective applicants at the People's College of Law web site.

"If you seek to become a lawyer or advocate for those who already control the economic and political power in our society," reads another PCL web page, "look elsewhere. There are plenty of law schools out there for you, most of them."

Another graduate of the People's College of Law is former State Assembly Speaker and Democrat Antonio Villaraigosa, currently a member of the Los Angeles City Council and a leading candidate to become the next Mayor of Los Angeles. After receiving a law degree from PCL, Villaraigosa failed four times to pass the California Bar Examination and has never become a practicing lawyer. As a student at the University of California in Los Angeles, Villaraigosa headed its campus chapter of the racist, reconquer-the-Southwest-for-Mexico organization MEChA.

People's College of Law no longer names alumni on its web site. But it boasts that its graduates hold positions in a variety of government offices such as the California Workers Comp Appeals Board, in Los Angeles Superior Court, in legal aid societies, in labor unions including the United Farm Workers and Hotel Employees & Restaurant Employees Union (HERE) and in many other places.

People's College of Law requires applicants for admission to submit evidence of their political activism to "demonstrate a commitment to progressive social change."

PCL is forthright about being a militant academy to train and arm lawyer warriors for political and legal class warfare. Think of it as a leftwing West Point that ought to be called Left Point.

People's College of Law is not accredited by the American Bar Association nor by the State Bar of California. "However," its web site explains, "PCL is licensed by the California Bureau of Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education of the Dept. of Consumer Affairs of the State of California as a degree granting institution. PCL graduates are eligible to sit for the California State Bar Examination upon completion of the juris doctor degree program."

The People's College of Law "owns the building in which it operates" near MacArthur Park in the Westlake district of downtown Los Angeles, says PCL's web site, "and leases space to other progressive community and advocacy organizations." Several of these organizations, as a Google search of PCL's street address found, advocate and raise funds for the left in Central America, particularly in El Salvador.

When a student at the University of California Los Angeles in the 1970s, Cedillo was an activist in the racialist Chicano Student Movement of Aztlan, MEChA. The head of UCLA’s incendiary MEChA chapter in that era was Antonio Villaraigosa, later to become Speaker of the lower house of the California legislature and nowadays a Los Angeles City Councilman. As documented in this column, both Cedillo and Villaraigosa attended and became lawyers with the help of the People’s Law School, a factory for the manufacture of radical leftist lawyers. Villaraigosa was alongside his old comrade Cedillo at the signing of this law.

One of Villaraigosa’s and Cedillo’s closest friends and allies is State Senator Richard Alarcon, who represents the heart of the San Fernando Valley north of Los Angeles. A far-Left Democrat like his friends, Alarcon reportedly has been a featured speaker at one banquet for the Communist “People’s Weekly World.”

But this may be more from the red of blood than of politics, because California Senator Alarcon’s sister Evelina is Vice Chair of the Communist Party USA and chair of the Southern California District of the Communist Party USA. She should be applauded for being far more honest about her politics than her “Democrat” brother is about his. In the insightful words of P.J. O’Rourke, “Liberalism is just Communism sold by the drink.”

Hahn keeping the economy going? I'm not sure about that when Jack Kyser is saying the opposite. In fact, jobs are leaving LA because of our high cost of living, city taxes, etc. The Mayor has a responsibility to ensure jobs stay in Los Angeles. Sure its an enourmous task but with the help of people like Jack Kyser and others it can be done. Has Jim done anything? Not that I can see.

I could care less about the charges and counter-charges of corruption. The simple fact is this Mayor had made concrete promises that he has not kept nor attempted to keep. We didn't forget the promises the Mayor made to Valley voters before and during Valley secession that didn't pan out. From the looks of things, Hollywood got a better deal

I like to get to the root of the question Mayor Sam posted: did city officials attempt to get the contractor to speed up construction in order for Hahn to get his picture in the paper before the election?

We know there were subtle nudges to the contractor. This project would have taken longer because of the impact of the heavy rains on the project. Either way, the article doesn't look good for Hahn. The project should have been done earlier but paying that much in overtime is totally irresponsible.

Yesterday in the interview on Channel 11 Villaraigosa replied to the 40,000 jobs said created by Hahn administration.

Villaraigosa said, "40,000 low paying jobs."

Regardless,low, high medium whatever he wanted to categorize this he labeled it! He should have clarified for the public what low paying jobs are, now, is He going to give the MASSES staff jobs. Those are not low paying, right?

He hates to give credit where credit is well deserved. He was full of jealousy when he heard that statement and responded with negativity. What happened to positive Villaraigosa, he was always crooked and a liar and still is.

Just when Hahn was thinking hey i can get my name in the news without hearing about Fleishman Hillard and his commission appointees, this comes up. I guess it won't be easy for him to cut the ribbon on Monday or to cut the ribbon on the new Mission Community Police Station in Mission Hills next Sat. Maybe something will come out about that station as well like getting the work done at taxpayer expense before the election

40,000 is an important start, but we need a balance of jobs, not just low-paying. We need corporations to settle in city of LA. We need bio-tech firms. We need steady jobs that provide the kind of income that residents need to live in this expensive city. Not just cleaning floors at Wal Mart.

Your right 40,000 is an important start...who said he is stopping there. Villaraigosa supporters are so used to him not finishing projects that they think this is it for jobs under the Hahn administration. No, No, Hahn is not like Villaraigosa. Villaraigosa is the poliltician who cannot speak of jobs in his district, business, education, even minute projects that he couldn't complete like parks.

It is great to see Hahn do this, that means he takes initiative and decisive. On the other hand, Villaraigosa is busy in Miama trying to seal drug connections for his L.A. buddies that bailed him out several times. Show me the money AV----I'm talking about clean Money----

Whatever! This is old already, what you want to have some coffee with me or what?

If people want to blog, let them, anonymous or not! You must be another Villaraigosa staff hustler who tries to cry wolf by intimidation, harrassement, and must be the newest Villaraigosa blog monitor.

BTW, don't explain yourself, just post if you want or not. It's a free country, not communism.

This is such a total non-story. FH blew up in Skelton's face, Hahn can't be tied to anything illegal, so this is what they come up with. SInce when is finishing a project ahead of schedule or getting construction workers to work seven days a week a politcal issues. You know Tony's campaign is n trouble when they start reaching this far. Bottom line, the project is getting done. If the election pushed up the day, so be it - I'm sure those Valley folks screaming for services don't mind. What's next Parke - just more and more of your unsubstantiated bullshit because your candidate doesn't have anythin gto run on.

"I like to get to the root of the question Mayor Sam posted: did city officials attempt to get the contractor to speed up construction in order for Hahn to get his picture in the paper before the election?"

????? Are you a blonde?

I think you've got it.

Overspending by more than $600,000 just to get a nice picture for the campaign is not a "slight nudge". it is forceful kick in the pants, but this time, the recipient is the guy who tried the klcking.

But of course, Jim will say:

"I don't know anything about this, but I will look into it, and if anyone has done wrong, I will be the first to deal with them".

Is that why he has fired Stein, Edwards, Wong, Dowie and lots of others? Of course, "Nothing has been proven", but they are still fired, right?

Deputy Mayor Brian Williams, take care, you too, Renata. That Stem Cell thing was not good news.

Sorry, you can't have it both ways.

There is a lot more than innuendo here, just ask John Stodder who has been indicted and is singing his head off...

Hey 1:27 p.m., I can do you one better (you guys HAVE to stop making this SO easy).

The simple fact is ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA had made concrete promises that he has not kept nor attempted to keep. We didn't forget the promises ANTONIO VILLARAIGOSA made to DISTRICT voters before and during CITY COUNCIL RACE AND SINCE that didn't pan out.

We can do this all day, but bottom line is... Hahn has kept SOME promises, probably most!

ADV has kept NONE, zero, zilch.

Take that batting average up to the BIG LEAGUES and what do you get?

Negative numbers? Can you HAVE a (minus) .500 batting average? If you can, ADV will do it.

Villaraigosa staff is trying to spin this non story into a story...This really shows the depth of scraps you have yourselves with. Antonio has completed anything you can boast about. Once Hahn opens his mouth on anything like education, there goes Villaraigosa saying he'll do that and more. Everything is copied from other people.

This really shows the depth of scraps you have yourselves with. Antonio has NOT completed anything you can boast about. Once Hahn opens his mouth on anything like education, there goes Villaraigosa saying he'll do that and more. Everything is copied from other people.

With the Daily News revealation of the over time deal, the mayor is better off cancelling the photo-op. Another sign his campaign is in deep funk, Mr. Hahn held an event with Nate Holden today. This is at least the fifth with the former councilman since Nate endorsed the mayor a couple of weeks ago. What is next, a press conference to announce an endorsment by his sister?The word is that his rival is out raising him two to one. My guess is Kawata and Carrick will start winding this thing down after May 5th, the next reporting period.

Jack Weiss has to be feeling like a complete asshole. Last night on Channel 2 Mark Coogan reported that back in November 10 city council members APPROVED the overtime of $700,00 and ANTONIO WAS ONE OF THEM. What, they don't talk to eachother? Now Antonio is saying he doesn't remember voting on the motion. Egg all over their faces today. They should have done their homework